The next time I decorate by a colour of the year will be the first time. Don't hold your breath. I have nothing against this particular colour but it doesn't work with all the things I've collected over the years, and I am not about to discard carpets bought after hard bargaining with dubious merchants in Istanbul or Islamabad because they don't "go" with a paint colour that someone voted "colour of the year." In its place, I think the colour would be quite nice (better than this years choices, certainly). It's just that my place isn't the right place for it.

Unless you have the money to update everything else to better complement the bricks, painting them will give you a much more updated look. Over the past 18mths I’ve been working on the front and landscape of my current house, including painting the bricks and it has made the world of difference! I’ve attached a before and after photo! Good luck.

I love your fireplace, and your tile selection, I can really see those tiles blending beautifully with the rest of the room and being a lovely feature as well. I have a similar fireplace (two tone brown brick) but it's in the living room, so I used furniture to hide it's mouth but will eventually be putting in a gas fireplace. I'd love to see how yours looks once it's done, you've inspired me to consider tiles as a base feature as well! :-)

Dr Retro House Calls, funny as I have a sample of monument here. Interesting about true black. Girlguides I have also been playing around the idea of ironstone on the garage doors. Attic Building Design you're right, the picture doesn't quite show it, they are mission brown, thinking of a grey/black. It's such a huge decision, hubby and I can only agree with no cream or green.